Fuel subsidy protest: Suit on killing by DPO adjourned till June 25

The Ademola Daramola seen here being manhandled by Policemen led by DPO Segun Fabunmi

A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, on Thursday, adjourned to June 25, the hearing in the case involving a dismissed Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Segun Fabunmi, alleged to have shot dead one Mr Ademola Daramola.

Fabunmi was alleged to have committed the offence during the January 2012 fuel subsidy protests in Lagos.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered the adjournment to enable the prosecution team led by Mrs E.I. Alakija to file its final written address and for the defence team led by Mr T.J. Odeshola to file its reply.

"The matter is hereby adjourned to June 25 for filing of final written addresses," Akinlade said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Fabunmi, the former DPO of Pen Cinema Police
Station, Agege, a suburb of Lagos, had served in the Nigerian Police Force for 28 years.

He had denied shooting Daramola in 2012.

Fabunmi had claimed, in his testimony before the court, that he, along with five junior officers, had responded to a distress call at the Yaya Abatan Junction, Ogba, Lagos State, on the said date.

He said that on getting to the scene of the incident on the said date, some hoodlums tried to dispossess him of his weapon, leading to an unexpected discharge of ammunition which inadvertently killed Daramola.

"I was the only one armed on that day. I was attacked by the mob which surrounded me and tried to collect my weapon from me.

"The junior officers who accompanied me on that day ran away for dear lives and during the struggle with the mob, I heard my gun expel a bullet.

"My lord, I never shot at anyone and may the soul Ademola Daramola rest in peace," Fabunmi said.

NAN also reported during the trial that five prosecution witnesses testified that Fabunmi chased Daramola and shot at him.